Echoes and Uprisings

Soon, the door creaks open, and Akira's grandmother appears.

Akira's grandmother is in her early 60s, with silver-gray hair pulled back in a neat bun. She has warm brown eyes with faint smile lines, and her skin carries a light tan. She wears a simple sweater in earthy tones, a long skirt, and a jade pendant around her neck. 

Her eyes were red and swollen, the traces of tears still wet.

She looks up at Hiro, and in an instant, confusion flashes into her wearied gaze.

"Hiro?"

The grief still strong in her voice.

Hiro steps aside, looking at Akira with silent encouragement.

"I brought someone to see you."

Slowly, Akira comes forward, his throat tightly closed in front of her.

"Obaachan,"

He says, shaking.

"It's me."

"It's Akira."

A feeling of being paralyzed, her hand shot to her mouth as her eyes widened in dismay:

"Akira?"

"For real?"

"Is that really...you?"

She stands dead still for a moment.

Then, with continued shakes, she leans towards him.

Her tears fall freely down her face; her voice cracks as she reaches closer.

"My boy my sweet boy."

"I lost all hope"

"I thought I lost even you forever."

Akira pulls her into a tight embrace, holding her slight frame tightly with his arms, closing his eyes.

"I'm here, Grandma."

"I'm so sorry...for everything."

"I wanted to come back, but-" He stops, the guilt thickening his voice.

"I was involved in something dangerous, and I couldn't contact anyone."

"I should have been here for you."

She holds on tighter now, her sobs heavy with years of pent-up grief and relief.

"We held a funeral, Akira."

"We buried an empty casket."

"You have no idea what that did to me."

"Every night, I just wished this was some mistake-that one day, you'd just walk through the door."

He pulls a little back, his eyes locking with hers tearfully.

"I know, Grandma, Hiro told me and I am so sorry"

"I'd have done anything if it would've spared you that pain."

His hand brushes her cheek, gently wiping a tear off.

"It wasn't safe to reach you out."

She studies his face, taking the serious glint in his eyes.

"You've changed, Akira… your hair, your clothes, even the way you look."

"You're different from the boy I remember."

Hardness was there in her voice, but her eyes seemed deeper, knowing.

Akira gulps and nods.

"You're right something in me has changed when that happened to our family"

He falls silent as his voice turned low.

"I must ask you a favor , Grandma."

"Please, don't tell anybody that I am alive not even Artenis needs to know."

"Just for now, this must be kept under wraps."

She does not say anything for several moments, but then she nods slowly.

Trust and understanding flood her eyes.

"Of course, my love."

"I won't tell a soul."

"But please, tell me what happened."

Akira's jaw clenches as memories of the past flood his mind.

"There were those I had trusted but were finally betrayed by, being put in a corner since that tragedy happened to our family and now, I have finally come to set things straight."

He takes a deep breath.

"To do that, though, I have to lay low for the time being."

"They must not know yet that I am alive."

Her lips tremble, and she lays her hand on his cheek; in her eyes, apprehension overflows.

"Promise me you'll be careful, Akira."

"I've already lost so much."

"I can't afford to lose you again."

Akira takes her hand in his and gives it a soft squeeze.

"I promise, Grandma."

"I just have to see this through."

He forces a small smile to lighten the mood.

"And I'll come back here as often as I can."

She snuffles, pride and love lining her tear-stained face.

Her hand finds his, quivering.

"No matter what's going to happen, I'm so proud of you."

Akira smile, little did she know what terrifying path her NEPHEW had choose to walk and if she would still be proud at the end of it.

Hiro-who had remained mute all this time, his voice rings with warmth.

"Glad to have you back, Akira."

"Whatever you need, I'm here for you."

Akira looks at Hiro

"Thank you, Hiro."

He nods, with evident shine in his eyes.

"Obaachan,"

Akira said

"I have one more thing to ask you."

Grandmother looked at him her warm soft eyes

"Of course, my boy."

"Ask me anything."

He took a deep breath, composing his voice before speaking.

"Have you… visited Mom lately?"

"Has anything good happened with her condition?"

Her face fell-the most terrifying moment of hesitation on her face.

She looked at the floor, refusing to meet his gaze her voice barely above a whisper when, at last, she spoke.

"I have, Akira," She whispered, her voice low with grief.

"But… nothing has changed...if anything… it's only gotten worse."

The weight of her words hit him like a blow, the air thick with unspoken sorrow. Akira's jaw clenched as he tried to keep his composure. His fists curled tightly at his sides, his nails biting into his palms.

"I see," he managed after a long silence, his voice strained, raw with emotion.

"I should go now, I can't stay for long here."

He finally said, he hugs his grandmother and the turn to leave.

"Be careful out there, Akira,"

His grandmother implored, her voice soft yet full of urgency.

"And remember, I'm always here waiting for you."

"Thank you, Grandma,"

He smiled warmly, trying to impart some comfort to her worried heart.

Hiro added,

"I will take care of him."

"Don't worry."

Akira turned a last look at his grandmother, standing in the hallway, while a maelstrom of emotions churned within his chest: relief, sadness, and determination.

He walked in silence beside Hiro, his fists clenched tightly, his expression dark and brooding.

His mind was elsewhere, a maelstrom of emotions tearing through him—relief at his grandmother's unwavering love, sadness for his mother's worsening condition, and a burning anger he couldn't extinguish.

Hiro glanced at him, his usual cheery demeanor replaced by concern.

Finally, he spoke, his voice hesitant.

"Akira, I need to say something to you."

"Not now, Hiro," 

"Im not in mood"

But Hiro stepped in front of him, forcing Akira to stop.

"No, Akira,"

Hiro said, his voice rising.

"I will say it!"

Akira shot him a sharp glare, his presence almost suffocating, his eyes glowing faintly with suppressed rage. Hiro flinched but didn't back down.

"Listen to me!" Hiro shouted, his voice desperate and raw.

"And wipe that look off your face, like you're some kind of hungry demon!"

"Just… listen."

The words cut through the haze in Akira's mind.

His gaze softened, though the pain and anger still lingered.

Hiro took a deep breath, steadying himself before continuing.

"You know, Akira," Hiro began, his voice quieter now but no less urgent.

"If you hadn't been there for me back in high school…"

He hesitated, as if the words themselves weighed heavily on his chest.

"I don't know where I'd be today."

Akira's brow furrowed, his expression questioning, but he said nothing.

"Those bullies," Hiro continued, his eyes glazing over as he stared into the past.

"They made my life a living hell."

"Every day felt like… I don't know, like I was invisible."

"Like I was worth nothing to the point i wanted to kill myself."

His voice trembled, but he pressed on.

"But then you appeared for me when nobody else did."

"You made them stop."

"You made them see me."

Hiro's breath hitched, and he glanced at Akira, his eyes brimming with sincerity.

"Honestly, I don't think I'd be here today if it weren't for you."

Akira's expression softened, his shoulders relaxing slightly. The corners of his mouth curved into a faint, almost sad smile.

"I didn't do it so you'd feel indebted to me, Hiro," - He said quietly.

But Hiro shook his head, his voice growing more urgent.

"It was so much more than just stepping in,"

Hiro said, his words tumbling out now.

"You were my friend when I felt like I had none."

"You made me feel like I mattered."

He paused, his voice catching as he locked eyes with Akira.

"I never got the chance to tell you how much that meant to me,"

Hiro said, his voice thick with emotion.

"But… but now I do."

"And Im so so sorry to say this but i don't know why, but I feel like if I don't say it now, I won't ever get the chance in the future."

He took a step closer, his sincerity radiating from every word.

"So… thank you, Akira. From the bottom of my heart… Thank you."

Before he can say anything, a loud, blood-curdling roar resounds down the street, dispelling the tranquility of the evening.

They freeze-the peaceful evening has turned into chaos in a split second.

Screams fill the air, and the faraway crash of crumbling buildings sends a surge of dread into them. Akira and Hiro turn to see gigantic, hulking figures charging down the street: Orc-like monsters with tusks, swinging crude weapons, their eyes filled with an insatiable rage.

Hiro's face goes white as he stumbles back, his voice laced with terror.

"What...where in the world...came those…?

Akira's eyes hardened, his voice dropping to a deadly calm.

"It's a dungeon outbreak."